Multimode electronic lock

Abstract

A multimode electronic lock is disclosed. The lock has three mechanical flag members which move so as to break light beams and detect the position of the flag members, sending a signal to an electronic lock controller. This allows the electronic lock controller to accurately and reliably determine whether the lock is in a locked or unlocked state, regardless of whether an electronic lock/unlock command or a mechanical key and tumbler mechanism was last used to lock or unlock it. Optional features which allow the locking assembly to be secured from transient accelerations/impacts and to move in highly consistent and controllable ways are also disclosed. The electronic lock controller can accept lock/unlock commands from a smartphone or other pairable device, and can lock or unlock the lock according to preprogrammed schedules and/or proximity of the paired device.

What is claimed and sought to be protected by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 ) A multimode electronic lock comprising:
 a) A locking cylinder which can be rotated by a key;   b) A shaft operably affixed to the locking cylinder which rotates when the key is rotated;   c) An electronic lock control system including a wireless interface module and a powertrain, the powertrain including a drive motor able to rotate the shaft either directly or by means of an optional gear member;   d) A lock condition sensor which electronically communicates with the electronic lock control system and allows the electronic lock control system to confirm that the multimode electronic lock is in a locked condition;   e) An unlock condition sensor which electronically communicates with the electronic lock control system and allows the electronic lock control system to confirm that the multimode electronic lock is in an unlocked condition;   f) A neutral condition sensor which electronically communicates with the electronic lock control system and allows the electronic lock control system to confirm that the powertrain is in a neutral position;   g) An electronic device running an electronic lock control app, the electronic device able to communicate with the electronic lock control system via the wireless interface module; and,   h) A locking member operably affixed to the shaft such that when either the key is rotated in the locking cylinder or the electronic control system activates the powertrain, the locking member engages or disengages a second locking member, locking or unlocking the multimode electronic lock.   
     
     
         2 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic lock control app includes a proximity sense control which can lock or unlock the multimode electronic lock when the electronic device is within or without a defined proximity to the multimode electronic lock. 
     
     
         3 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic lock control system includes a tamper detection feature which can alert a user via the lock control app if the multimode electronic lock is tampered with. 
     
     
         4 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic lock control app includes a rapid access control which allows a user to set a predetermined time range during which the multimode electronic lock will automatically lock or unlock. 
     
     
         5 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) A cam-lock coupler, the cam-lock coupler comprising an outer drive cylinder and an inner drive cylinder, the outer drive cylinder being operably affixed to the locking cylinder, the inner drive cylinder being inserted into the outer drive cylinder, and the inner drive cylinder being operably affixed to the shaft;   b) A plurality of inner lobes, the inner lobes interrupting an interior circumference of the outer drive cylinder; and,   c) A plurality of outer lobes, the outer lobes interrupting an exterior circumference of the inner drive cylinder, such that when the inner drive cylinder or the outer drive cylinder rotates through a circular rotation, the outer lobes become engaged with the inner lobes during a first part of the circular rotation, and become disengaged from the inner lobes during a second part of the circular rotation.   
     
     
         6 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 1 , wherein the key can rotate the locking cylinder into a key lock position, a key neutral position, and a key unlock position, with the key neutral position being located between the key lock position and the key unlock position, the key neutral position corresponding to the powertrain being in the neutral position, and wherein the key can be inserted into or removed from the locking cylinder only when the locking cylinder is in the key neutral position. 
     
     
         7 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 2 , wherein the key can rotate the locking cylinder into a key lock position, a key neutral position, and a key unlock position, with the key neutral position being located between the key lock position and the key unlock position, the key neutral position corresponding to the powertrain being in the neutral position, and wherein the key can be inserted into or removed from the locking cylinder only when the locking cylinder is in the key neutral position. 
     
     
         8 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 3 , wherein the key can rotate the locking cylinder into a key lock position, a key neutral position, and a key unlock position, with the key neutral position being located between the key lock position and the key unlock position, the key neutral position corresponding to the powertrain being in the neutral position, and wherein the key can be inserted into or removed from the locking cylinder only when the locking cylinder is in the key neutral position. 
     
     
         9 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 4 , wherein the key can rotate the locking cylinder into a key lock position, a key neutral position, and a key unlock position, with the key neutral position being located between the key lock position and the key unlock position, the key neutral position corresponding to the powertrain being in the neutral position, and wherein the key can be inserted into or removed from the locking cylinder only when the locking cylinder is in the key neutral position. 
     
     
         10 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 5 , wherein the key can rotate the locking cylinder into a key lock position, a key neutral position, and a key unlock position, with the key neutral position being located between the key lock position and the key unlock position, the key neutral position corresponding to the powertrain being in the neutral position, and wherein the key can be inserted into or removed from the locking cylinder only when the locking cylinder is in the key neutral position. 
     
     
         11 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   b) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   c) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         12 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   b) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   c) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         13 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   b) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   c) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         14 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   b) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   c) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         15 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   b) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   c) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         16 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 d) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   a) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   b) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         17 ) multimode electronic lock as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   b) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   c) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         18 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   b) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   c) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         19 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   b) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   c) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         20 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a) A first end of the shaft, the first end of the shaft being operably affixed to the locking cylinder;   b) A second end of the shaft, the second end of the shaft being operably affixed to a right-angle linkage, the right-angle linkage having a range of movement substantially at right angles to an axis of the shaft such that when the shaft rotates the right-angle linkage moves through the range of movement at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft; and,   c) A linking arm, the linking arm being operably affixed to the right-angle linkage and to the locking member, such that when the right-angle linkage moves at substantially a right angle to an axis of rotation of the shaft, the linking arm causes the locking member to engage or disengage with the second locking member.   
     
     
         21 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 2 , wherein the electronic lock control system includes a tamper detection feature which can alert a user if the multimode electronic lock is tampered with. 
     
     
         22 ) A multimode electronic lock as in  claim 21 , wherein the electronic lock control system includes a rapid access control which allows a user to set a predetermined time range during which the multimode electronic lock will automatically lock or unlock.